Storm Clouds on the Horizon
By Mike Taylor, Dróttinn of the Männerbund Auxiliary
Where I live, I often see storm clouds on the horizon. When they gather, they come from all directions and build to form a massive tempest, seeking to rent the skies with light and sound as they pound the ground with all manner of natural destruction. I see them when I am outside for physical training; I see them when I drive to or from whatever destination compelled me to get on the road; I see them when I gaze out the window. But these storm clouds pass and usher in a following calm that speaks of returning order in the wake of destructive chaos.
During those times when I am out in the elements, braving the incoming storm in whatever activity that drew me from shelter, I revel in the chaos. It provides me plentiful opportunities to clear my mind, open my senses, and do some thinking. And now and then that clarity of mind and subsequent thinking leads to inspiration, today being one of those glorious days.
In one sense, the storm clouds on the horizon portend disaster or crisis. But I see them as merely a challenge, a struggle, and a welcome one at that. Without challenges, the Folk cannot rise to their potential. Without obstacles, there is nothing to overcome. In other words, Folk without struggles are not afforded opportunities to test themselves, excel, grow, improve, and – ultimately - conquer themselves and transcend to their higher selves.
In a practical and very basic sense, I witness struggle every day on my little homestead. Male cardinals compete with each other for the attention of the few females. Blue jays compete with robins, chickadees, wrens, and more for food in feeders as they provide for their families. Gray squirrels compete with red and black squirrels, as well as possums, for food scattered about on the ground. Raccoons and foxes vie for other types of food, and both try to remain unseen by human eyes. Deer compete with humans both by delighting in eating the sweet blossoms of planted flowers or the delectable bounty of garden fruits and vegetables, not to mention their struggle to avoid hunters.
Those that overcome that daily struggle are rewarded with an opportunity to get stronger, live another day, procreate, provide for and grow their flock or herd, and extend the life of their group. Those who fail to meet the challenge take their respective position on the food chain. As it is with our fur- and feather-covered friends, so too is it with the Folk.
As for the storm clouds on the horizon, they challenge me and provide for me a struggle from which I have an opportunity to improve myself and my family. Certain things need to be done ahead of any storm. In this case, there is ample opportunity to refine stocks, minimize or eliminate gaps in our emergency preparation, and generally review our situation with an eye towards improvement.
Less tangibly, there are storm clouds on the horizon for us all, as members of our Folkish Nation. Whether those individual storm clouds portend ill health and sickness, economic strife, a partial or complete breakdown of civil order, or the imposition of martial law, no one truly knows. But each of these separate thunderheads together forms the great storm that is roaring in toward us over the horizon.
These storm clouds on the horizon will challenge us in ways we may not even understand or envision. Still, each presents us with opportunities to improve ourselves and strengthen the bonds between families, kindreds, communities, regions, and our Raven Folk Nation. What will we do with this opportunity? Will we become overwhelmed by the struggle and succumb to anxiety and depression? Will we wallow in imagined misery? Or will we meet this challenge head-on like our ancestors?
Individually we are strong. We would not be here if we were not. We each have our strengths and weaknesses, and we readily admit these and share them with our brothers. We also share the burdens and the weight of the struggle, together, as a community of brothers. In this way, we will not only weather this storm, we will come out of it stronger and better prepared for the next storm.
Make no mistake – after this storm passes, there will be more. That is why I am not saddened, anxious, or afraid. I will use this storm to test my mettle and make improvements where I am weak, share my strength with my brothers, and contribute to the survival of my people. In this way, the Folk grows, both in numbers and in collective strength. For the men, hardship brings them together and the brotherhood serves as the vanguard for the Folk. In this way, the Männerbund serves our people.
We may reside in different geographic areas, but we are one people. Yankee, Southerner, Midwesterner, or Pacific Northwesterner – we are united. We boast different sub-cultures, accents, backgrounds, experiences, interests, and talents. Our efforts are bound together within one vision and toward one purpose. And that is what makes our tribe strong. We speak with one voice, and we act together with one fist. Our numbers may be few and scattered when compared to the masses around us, but because a common purpose unites us, our strength is magnified.
Never forget these things. Never lose sight of the vision, the purpose, or the goal. The struggle is eternal, and we are gathering strength with each passing day. As the gathering storm clouds on the horizon gain strength and intensify, so too do we. We are well-positioned and well-prepared to meet the coming storms. Let us do so nobly, and with strength, honor, and dignity.